These are facts,
historical facts. Not schoolbook history, not Mr. Wells's history,but history
nevertheless.

Casper Gutman, in Dashiell Hammett'sThe Maltese Falcon

This site is devoted to my various historical interests. I
hope you will find the site useful, particularly if you want to learn how to use
the archival records discussed here. More pages and more subjects will
be added over the next few months, so keep coming back. Oh, and don't forget
to tell me what you think
of the site.

There are some pages about the South African War (Boer War), 1899-1902. This major military event has
been almost forgotten in the UK, and I hope these pages will go in some small
way to redress this shameful omission. Why not find more about the Absent Minded Beggar - the hit song of 1899!

In recent months I have become involved with the Family and Community History
Society South East branch's Pub Research Group and have included an increasing
number of pages relating to the
history of public houses. I am also editor of the Brewery History
Society's newsletter and over time extracts from the newsletter will appear here.

My PhD thesis is on charity history, and
as it is another neglected slice of British history here are a few pages
on charity history
.

For several years I was secretary of the
Friendly Society Research Group, so have included several pages on friendly societies (another neglected but important part of British life) and how to find more about
them.